This is for ThumperMiggles. Her daily updates keep me hooked on Tokka!
Mad love Thumper!!!
This is postwar and about six years after.
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Tired of Being Sorry
Chapter 1
Back in the City of Secrets
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The sky was brilliant blue. Small clouds floated in the sky, providing little drifting patches of shade for weary travelers to rest in. Ba Sing Se stood near the coast, a beacon for peace and prosperity. The inner walls were brought down and homes were spread out without the presence of the walls. Ba Sing Se was a haven for all nations. People of all shapes and sizes seemed to be here, from the youngest Waterbenders to the oldest Firebender the wisest Earthbenders. Many new schools were built where all the bending were taught and could be learnt by anyone With added imports from the Fire Nation the city was thriving.
Sokka of the Water Tribe was wandering the streets, sword on his back and a pouch of coins jingling at his side. It had been four years since he had last been in the Earth Kingdom; he had been rebuilding his home in the South but had decided on a change of scenery. The endless expanse of snow and water was getting old. So he and Katara had packed up their bags and caught the next boat to Ba Sing Se. While Katara was in the spa enjoying her 'girl time' Sokka decided to go on his own and do his favorite activity: shopping. He turned a corner and heard a voice calling to the crowd.
"Bracelets, anklets, rings, broaches and necklaces you want'em we gott'em." The voice was coming from behind a booth filled with silver, copper and gold. Ladies were gathered around his stall but it might not been because of the jewels. The man was taller than Sokka, had a set of large stormy grey eyes and a head of black hair that fell casually into his face. The only thing that singled him out from a normal citizen was the blue arrow ending between his eyebrows.
Aang the Avatar was in Ba Sing Se, running a jewelry business. Sokka approached the stand. "I see you took my advice Aang." Sokka said, smiling widely. The women around the stand parted to let the Avatar walk over, eyes open disbelievingly.
"Sokka?" he managed after staring for a few moments.
"The one and only," Sokka and Aang hugged, laughing while the crowd dispersed, somewhat thrown off by the spontaneous hug. "It's good to see you Aang." Sokka said after they let go of each other.
"You too Sokka, is Katara here?" Aang said hopefully, looking over Sokka's shoulder as though she was simply hiding behind her brother.
Sokka faked a hurt look, "You're not happy to see me Aang? You only want to see, " he made kissing noises, "Katara?"
Aang blushed furiously; "Well she was my Sifu…" he covered up lamely, rubbing the back of his head nervously.
"Yeah whatever, she's here with me." Aang's eyes lit up.
"I can close shop early, just give me a sec." Aang skipped back to the counter and pulled in the display and closed it with a lock, "Okay let's go!"
A girl walked along one of the many roads to Ba Sing Se. She was tall, walking with an air of authority that could only come with age. Her feet were uncovered like most Earthbenders but her eyes were unnaturally pale. Two light emerald orbs, unmoving but still filled with an unnamed emotion. Black pants covered her legs and she wore what seemed to be a tunic, which was an earthy yellow with a deep green trim. Under that she had a brown shirt and bracers up to her elbows, holding it all together was a green silk belt. Her hair was black and pulled into a low bun while her bangs still hung in her face.
"State your name and business." Two guards patrolled the entrance, straw hats shading them from the summer sun.
"Toph Beifong, All-Spirits Festival." She shifted her position slightly, blowing her bangs out of her face and putting a hand on her hip. The guards looked her up and down, murmured to each other before the female one spoke.
"Okay, welcome to Ba Sing Se." the guards bowed and opened the gate leading to the city.
"Yeah, good to be back." She muttered under her breath and walked into the crowd, blending almost immediately.
"Aang!" Katara's voice was heard even over the mull of the crowd. She shoved a few people aside to reach the Avatar and when she was within five feet she jumped into the air and threw her arms around his neck, "I can't believe you're here!"
"It's good to see you to Katara." Aang was grinning, holding his old sifu close.
"Sure just ignore your loving older brother who happened to find Aang."
Katara did just that. "What are you doing here?" she let go of Aang but kept his hand in hers.
"I opened a jewelry business." He said simply, squeezing her hand subconsciously.
Katara laughed at this, "Well it's no use standing around, let's go find a teashop. It's time for a reunion!" Katara ran forward pulling Aang along while Sokka jogged behind, laughing at Aang's obvious blush. Katara talked the whole way, not letting Aang or Sokka get a word in. She blabbered on about Gran-Gran, how the repairs at the South Pole were going and how happy she was to see Aang again.
"This is a good place," said Aang as they stopped near a shop, the sign read 'Teas of the World'. Aang opened the door and smiled at the storeowner, "Hey Tamaki."
"Hello Aang," the storeowner grinned from over the counter. He was middle-aged, pale skin and dark eyes marking him as Fire Nation, "What can I get for you today?"
"The usual," he turned to Sokka and Katara, "What do you guys want?"
"Ginseng please." Katara smiled sweetly.
"Got any meat?"
Aang shuffled over to Katara and whispered, "Is he serious?"
She giggled, "This is my brother you're talking about."
He grinned, "Good point, there's an empty table over there." He wandered over to a corner table where he and Katara took one side of the booth waiting for Sokka to decide what he wanted. Aang was staring at Katara, trying to remember the last time he had seen her look so peaceful.
"Why'd you choose Ba Sing Se?" Katara interrupted his train of thought.
"In case they ever need the Avatar I'm never more than a few miles away."
"So how's Appa doing?" Obviously the bison couldn't just follow Aang around all day.
"Oh he's good, the zoo let me keep him there so I can still see him and he get lots of moon peaches."
"No meat…bah." Sokka had returned looking sour, his arm crossed he sat in the booth and sulked in the corner. Katara and Aang looked at each other and started laughing, this was what it was supposed to be like; Aang, Katara and Sokka back together, the three amigos, the Boomerang Squad, the Aang Gang, the Fearsome Foursome. The Fearsome Foursome.
"Have any of you seen Toph since Ozai's Fall?" Aang suddenly asked as the thought crossed his mind.
Sokka sat up quickly and Katara shook her head, "No Aang, no one's seen her for six years."
"I wonder why she left." Katara turned to her brother, "Do you have any idea?"
"Uh…well, you see," he fiddled with the edge of the table, his blue eyes not daring to face Aang's gray or Katara's azure, "Oh our tea's ready!" and he bolted out of the both leaving a confused Aang and a suspicious Katara. Sokka walked over the counter and grabbed the tray with the three cups. When he turned back he crashed right into someone, the tray fell and the tea soaked Sokka and the stranger.
"Watch where you're going!"
"I'd love to," she yelled back and pointed at her pale green eyes. Sokka knew those eyes, "But I'M BLIND!"
"Toph?" his voice was suddenly strained and it came out garbled. How had she grown so much!? It had only been six years! Okay maybe six years was a long time, but still! She reached the bottom of his chin!
"Yeah that's me, got a problem buddy?" Obviously the sands of time had done nothing to her personality.
"It's me…"
"Me who?!" She glared at him; her loud voice had attracted the attention of everyone in shop. Katara and Aang were looking concerned; who was the girl talking to Sokka?
"Toph. It's me Sokka."
"Snoozles?" her outburst deflated as the voice of her best friend finally was recognized. Sokka abruptly started laughing and picked Toph up in a hug.
"Toph!," he turned to Aang and Katara, Toph still in his arms, "Aang! Katara! It's Toph!" The other two came over and joined in the group hug. Toph had an eyebrow arched and was looking beyond confused.
"What are you guys doing here?" she asked, her face squished into Sokka's shirt, "I thought Sugar Queen and you were in the Southern Water Tribe."
Sokka let her go but wrapped a friendly arm around her shoulder, "Time for a change of scenery. What are you doing here?"
"The All-Spirits festival."
"Well common! This is perfect for our reunion!" Katara had not changed in six years, still bright, happy and enthusiastic. Toph missed her a lot. Being alone for six years made her realize just how important her friends were to her.
"So, how's everyone been?"
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A/N
Welcome to the world of betad full chapter stories!
goes off to dance in daisies
Just to clarify
Sokka: 21
Katara: 20
Aang Toph: 18